Steven Burns enjoyed a fabulous four-year football career at
UMass Boston, playing his first two seasons on the club level team
in the New England Collegiate Football Conference (NECFC) and his
final two years (1988-89) at the varsity level. In 1986 during his
freshman year, Burns saw significant playing time as a rookie and
worked his way into a starting role as a Defensive Back. He
recorded 25 tackles, 13 assists, two interceptions, and two fumble
recoveries in his first season of varsity football. Burns'
sophomore campaign in 1987 was sensational, as he was often called
"Mr. Offense" because of his blazing speed and instinctive ball
hawking skills as a starting Cornerback. That year he returned
several kickoffs, punt returns, and interceptions for touchdowns
which resulted in him being awarded NECFC Player of the Week honors
on three occasions. His exploits on the field allowed him to be a
part of the 12- 0 New England Collegiate Football Conference
Champions team where he earned the squad's Defensive MVP honors
after recording 51 solo tackles, 22 assisted tackles, nine
interceptions, seven returns for TD's (three kickoff returns, two
punt returns and two interception returns) while also recovering
one fumble. As a member of the 1988 NCAA varsity team, Burns had an
equally impressive year finishing the season with 39 solo tackles,
35 assisted tackles, three interceptions, one sack, and one fumble
recovery. In his final season in 1989, Burns finished his career
with a terrific campaign in the UMass Boston backfield as the
Roxbury native recorded 45 tackles, 11 assists, two interceptions
and one fumble recovery. Known mainly for his return skills and
speed, Burns returned 23 kicks for 520 yards, including a record
setting 104-yard touchdown return against Curry College in 1989. He
was named to the 1989 New England Football Conference All-Star team
and also enjoyed two semi-professional stints playing for the Hyde
Park Cowboys in the Eastern Football League. Following his UMass
Boston playing days, Burns participated in several professional
tryout sessions including one for the New England Patriots in 1994,
the Professional Spring Football League in 1992 which resulted in
him being drafted by the New England Blitz, the Albany Firebirds
& Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League in 1991 as well
as a World League tryout for the Orlando Thunder in 1990.